Awards Announced at 85th Conference - Quills 2020
LEAGUE OF UTAH WRITERS APPOINT NEW PRESIDENT AND NAME WRITER OF THE YEAR AMONG OTHER AWARDS AT THEIR 85th ANNUAL WRITING CONFERENCE
Salt Lake City, UT -- The League of Utah Writers held their annual awards ceremony for the 85th time last night, appointing a new President of the organization, announcing their Writer of the Year award, and giving away almost $3,000 in cash prizes for their annual writing contest.
Johnny Worthen of the Infinite Monkeys chapter ended his two-year tenure as president of the League of Utah Writers and passed the gavel to John M. Olsen of the Herriman chapter. “It’s been an absolute privilege to serve in this organization,” Worthen said of his time. “We are stronger than we’ve ever been, and we’ve been going for a while. I’m confident the League will continue its tradition of offering community, opportunity, and excellence to its members.”
“The League is a great resource for local writers through our conferences and other events which are mostly online at the moment,” Olsen said. Looking to the future, he continued, “We have a wonderful, vibrant writing community in Utah. Moving forward, we will concentrate on fresh ways to teach, to network, and to help one another learn and grow and achieve our goals as writers. Each generation of writers learns from the one before, and then becomes the mentors of those who follow them, and I love being a part of that.”
Also named was the new President-Elect of the League, Bryan Young, who will succeed Olsen at the end of his term which could last one or two years. Young previously served as the Historian of the League and is the president of the Salt City Genre Writers chapter. “I’m deeply honored that I’ve been chosen to help continue the legacy of this august organization,” Young said. “For 85 years it’s provided mentorship and learning opportunities for writers of all skill levels and I can’t wait to take a turn advancing it toward the end of its first century as we seek to create a safe, diverse, and inclusive place for writers.”
Every year, the League chooses one writer among its ranks to honor as the Writer of the Year. After open nominations and a tough spate of judging, Charlie N. Holmberg came out with the top honors. The award is designed to shine a light on the most impressive writer in Utah, one who has accomplished something with their publishing, and offered mentorship to their fellows. Holmberg exemplifies this through the work she’s done with the League of Utah Writers as well as her publishing credits. She is the award-winning author of the Numina series, The Fifth Doll, and many others. Her Wall Street Journal bestselling Paper Magician series was optioned by the Walt Disney Company. Charlie’s stand-alone novel, Followed by Frost, was nominated for a 2016 RITA Award for Best Young Adult Romance. 2020 saw the release of her latest, The Will and the Wilds.
The Diamond Quill award, the League’s highest honor, was bestowed on the novel #Lured by Jo Schneider.
Other Quill Award and contest winners are listed below the press release in their entirety.
The League of Utah Writers is a nonprofit organization supporting aspiring and established writers with outreach, education, and publishing opportunities. With more than two dozen chapters throughout Utah, from Logan to St. George, it is the state’s oldest and largest writing community. Established in 1935, the League of Utah Writers sponsors contests, conferences, classes, and other events throughout the year. Aspiring Utah writers of all ages, styles, and experience levels are invited to join the league and take the next step in their writing career.
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QUILL AWARD WINNERS
DIAMOND QULL:
#Lured by Jo Schneider
NOVEL
Gold Quill: Founding Sheriff by Edward Massey
Silver Quill: Retaliation by Haley Cavanagh
Recommended Read: Siege & Sacrifice by Charlie Holmberg
Recommended Read: Thicker Than Water by Johnny Worthen
Recommended Read: Not the Bodyguard's Baby by Lorin Grace
YOUTH
Gold Quill: Elmer's Feelings by Kari Milito
Silver Quill: We Shall Be Monsters by Ryan Decaria
Recommended Read: Zoo by Ann Hunter
Recommended Read: Farm Families by Robyn Buttars
COLLECTIONS
Gold Quill: Cresting the Sun by Nicholas Adams et al
Silver Quill: Yearning to Breathe Free by Lyn Worthen et al
Recommended Read: Grifty Shades of Fey by Johnny Worthen et al
Recommended Read: Robotech: The Macross Saga by Bryan Young et al
Recommended Read: Spirals by Keri Montgomery/The Brigham City Chapter
NONFICTIONS
Gold Quill: Searching Isaiah by David Armstrong
Silver Quill: Heartbeats by Jef Huntsman
CONTEST AWARD WINNERS
NEW WRITER
NEW WRITER: CREATIVE NONFICTION
First Place: The Haunted Castle - Steven Wight
Second Place: Fear and Wonder in Apple Valley, Minnesota - Elijah Foster
Third Place: Vic Mignogna VS Funimation - Kiara Horowitz
NEW WRITER: FICTION
First Place: The Champion - J Schnader
Second Place: King Billy the Wicked - Glenn Reschke
Third Place: When Boys Have Breasts: The First Kiss - Frank Jones
First Honorable Mention: You’re Nobody Until Somebody Loves You - Maxwell Nobis
Second Honorable Mention: Durango - J Schnader
Third Honorable Mention: Out and Through - Anna Bessesen
NEW WRITER: FIRST CHAPTER (FICTION OR NON-FICTION)
First Place: The City of Schemes - Bill Garwin
Second Place: Matt Mabie and the Adventures of the Morning Star - Justin Glauser
Third Place: Relatively Normal Secrets - Christina Allen
First Honorable Mention: Alchemy’s End - Mary Johnstun
Second Honorable Mention: The Search for Macadamia - A Quest Most Noble
Third Honorable Mention: Tides of Blood - Jessica Zarnofsky
NEW WRITER: POETRY
First Place: Growth - Danielle Harward
Second Place: Gender Scale - Kam Hadley
Third Place: Life In the Time Of Corona - Carolyn Marlin
First Honorable Mention: Phoenix - Windy Talbot
POETRY
POETRY: LIGHT VERSE (RHYMING, METRICAL, AND/OR HUMOROUS)
First Place: Night Ride - Robyn Buttars
Second Place: Cereal Killer - Charlene Harmon
Third Place: Daydreaming - Charlene Harmon
First Honorable Mention: A Vary Mary Christmas - Denis Feehan
Second Honorable Mention: Love of Lisa - Jef Huntsman
Third Honorable Mention: Addiction - Gregor Deluca
POETRY: LOVE/LOSS
First Place: Eiderdown - Lorraine Jeffery
Second Place: Sleeping Alone: The Wife Left Behind - Charlene Harmon
Third Place: Deafening - Michael Lopez
First Honorable Mention: Kyles Room - Jef Huntsman
Second Honorable Mention: Obituary - Sue Leth
Third Honorable Mention: Beyond the Blossoms - Grace Jessen
POETRY: NARRATIVE POETRY (OPEN OR CLOSED FORM)
First Place: Face of My Father - Jayrod Garrett
Second Place: Blind Amanda and His Eyes - Lorraine Jeffery
Third Place: Cemetery Service - Grace Jessen
First Honorable Mention: First Signs - Jef Huntsman
Second Honorable Mention: Sunshine Walls - Jayrod Garrett
Third Honorable Mention: Hope and Despair - Krystal Gerber
POETRY: PROSE POEM
First Place: Maverick Jazz - Marie Tollstrup
Second Place: First Lady of the Wild World - Frank DeCarla
Third Place: Nestled in Nature - Claudene Gordon
First Honorable Mention: The Islands of the Dead - Cara O’Sullivan
Second Honorable Mention: Twilight Walk - Mare Tollstrup
Third Honorable Mention: Dear Dora, - C. Butler
PROSE
PROSE: CHILDREN’S STORY
First Place: The Squawk - Caroline Peterson
Second Place: The Cookie Fix - Arlena Harmon
Third Place: Loose Tooth on the Loose - Robyn Buttars
First Honorable Mention: Halloween Haunt - Robyn Buttars
Second Honorable Mention: Clarion - Tim Heare
PROSE: CREATIVE NONFICTION
First Place: Eulogy for My Living Brother - Sara Wetmore
Second Place: A Maid Named Maria - Sandra Montanino
Third Place: Clarke Gable Drops the F-Bomb - Chris Todd Miller
First Honorable Mention: Confessions of a Claustrophobic - Denis Feehan
Second Honorable Mention: The Poison Within -Marie Tollstrup
Third Honorable Mention: Baseball Bats and Crystal Balls - Rachael Bush
PROSE: FIRST CHAPTER (NOVEL)
First Place: Haunts Apparitions and Things Left Undead - Ryan Decaria
Second Place: The Brigham - Scott Tarbet
Third Place: Antoine’s Run - Jef Huntsman
First Honorable Mention: The Weight of Salt - Sandra Montanino
Second Honorable Mention: The Fires of Mortality - Cara O’Sullivan
Third Honorable Mention: Unproven - Nick Jensen
PROSE: FIRST CHAPTER (YOUNG ADULT)
First Place: Legendary Mellie - Christina Allen
Second Place: How to Survive Seventh Grade - David Rodeback
Third Place: Kinda Quaker Deenie - Lauren King
First Honorable Mention: Rise of the Stripling Warriors - Scott Tarbet
Second Honorable Mention: Snow So White - Kathryn Ferriello
Third Honorable Mention: The Alchemist’s Coin - Rachel DeFriez
PROSE: FLASH FICTION
First Place: Stepping Out - Marie Tollstrup
Second Place: Dinner for Halgaroth - Heidi Voss
Third Place: Sucker - Autumn Rust
First Honorable Mention: Patient Zero - Amanda Barusch
Second Honorable Mention: Unforgettable - Elizabeth Suggs
Third Honorable Mention: The Opportunity - Rock Thompson
PROSE: HISTORICAL FICTION
First Place: Hippocrates - Bryan Young
Second Place: Uncle Robert - David Kennedy
PROSE: MEDIA ARTICLE
First Place: Flying Solo - Marie Tollstrup
Second Place: Phantom Reality - Marie Tollstrup
Third Place: Confronting Suicide - Marie Tollstrup
First Honorable Mention: High Wire Act - Marie Tollstrup
Second Honorable Mention: ‘Revenge of the Sith’ Opened the Door to Exploring ‘Star Wars’ Afterlife - Bryan Young
Third Honorable Mention: The Birds and the Bees - Alice Batzel
PROSE: SCREENPLAY
First Place: Help Wanted - Bryan Young
Second Place: Nightmares - Bryan Young
Third Place: Honky Tonk Gals - Lonnie Bradley
PROSE: SHORT FICTION
First Place: Me and Liz - Josie Hulme
Second Place: Canceled - Monica Simons
Third Place: Missing Margaret - Donna Graves
First Honorable Mention: Her Voice - David Rodeback
Second Honorable Mention: It Could Have Been Us - Tyler Nelson
Third Honorable Mention: Ketchum - Bryan Young
PROSE: SPECULATIVE FICTION
First Place: A Sense of Justice - Johnny Worthen
Second Place: Winds of Fate - Krystal Gerber
Third Place: Anything - Bryan Young
First Honorable Mention: No Soliciting - Caryn Larrinaga
Second Honorable Mention: The Waiting Nightmare - Aren Hatch
Third Honorable Mention: The Reaper - Josie Hulme
PROSE: SPIRITUAL ESSAY
First Place: From Nun to None - Marie Tollstrup
Second Place: The Fallen Sparrow - Krystal Gerber
Third Place: Truth - Lorraine Jeffery
First Honorable Mention: 10,000 Hours to Michelle Obama’s Arm Muscles - Vicky Oliver
Second Honorable Mention: Joel - Claudene Gordon
Third Honorable Mention: A Gender Queer Follower of Christ - Kam Hadley
PROSE: WESTERN
First Place: The Wild Bunch Barber - Bryan Young
Second Place: A Turn to the South - Molly Sturdevant
Third Place: Justice - Tim Heare
